Democratic Gov. Kate Brown has signed legislation, Senate Bill 970, prohibiting landlords from taking discriminatory action against those who either use medical cannabis or possess cannabis-related convictions.

The measure states that a landlord may not take into consideration an applicant’s “status as a medical marijuana patient” or whether they have a “conviction based solely on the use or possession of marijuana.”

“Often times patients are forced to choose between their health and well-being and suitable housing,” said NORML State Policies Coordinator Carly Wolf. “No human being should have to make that choice. And starting next year in Oregon, no patient will have to. It’s about time that patients and consumers are no longer arbitrarily discriminated against for being compliant with state law.”